The Ryder Cup keeps getting bigger and bigger every two years, the hype and anticipation, and the money surrounding it approaching major championship levels. And because of that continued growth and interest, the 2014 edition will be the first ever European-hosted event to be completely live televised and streamed online back in the United States.
2014 Ryder Cup viewer’s guide: How to watch online, TV schedule, radio and more
For the first time, a European-hosted event will be carried live in its entirety back in the States. Here’s how to watch the most exciting event in golf all through the night.
Jamie Squire
A big reason for this increased coverage is that the rights to the event now solely belong to NBC and their Comcast sister, Golf Channel. Earlier this year it was announced that NBC would take over sole coverage of the Friday matches, which they had never broadcast. That made it easy to house all coverage in one spot and keep the broadcasts live from Scotland both during the week and then for the weekend sessions as well.
Nothing beats the Ryder Cup
With the entire event now broadcast, figure out a way to call in sick on Friday now, and then just head out to a bar Thursday evening and power through the night as the coverage comes on the air at 2:30 a.m. ET. The Ryder Cup has achieved such notoriety and enthusiasm that there will still be a strong audience ready and waiting in the middle of the night as Thursday runs into Friday.
The first two days are the two double sessions, so it’s a bit of a marathon stretch as you transition from Foursomes to Four-Ball in the afternoon. In total, the days can run almost 11 hours but obviously Golf Channel and NBC will stay on as long as needed. One of the things that’s so fun and unique about the British Open is the mid-July middle of the night golf. The Ryder Cup is an even more unique event, and generally more energetic and fun to watch. So having the broadcast live just makes it that much cooler an experience (that’s if you’re able to skip out on Friday obligations).
In addition to now having full rights for all three days and carrying it live, the NBC/Golf Channel partnership will also provide a concurrent broadcast. This is the introduction of what Golf Channel is calling “Alternate Shot.” It’s a separate broadcast on GC that complements the normal broadcast you’ll get on NBC on Saturday/Sunday. In addition to a separate feed, there will also be graphics and stats peppering the screen similar to the spotlight coverage that Golf Channel uses concurrent to NBC broadcasts for some of their bigger tournaments. The stats and TrackMan info that line the screen for that broadcast have been termed by some as “the future of televised golf.”
David Feherty will host this broadcast from back at Golf Channel’s Orlando studio, and he’ll be joined by GC host Gary Williams and a set of former Ryder Cup captains and players. The cameras and video will also be different from the NBC broadcast, using some of the international satellite feed. Piping in with Feherty will be Lanny Wadkins, one of the USA’s most decorated Ryder Cuppers, David Duval, and Justin Leonard. Former captains such as Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Corey Pavin, and Tony Jacklin will also join for different stretches. If you’re getting worn down by Johnny Miller over on NBC, this will definitely be a a more light-hearted and humorous party with Feherty in control.
With the U.S. Open taking the money and bolting from their traditional broadcast partner for FOX next year, the Ryder Cup is now probably NBC’s marquee golf property. So they’re going to blow it out, and acquiring the rights to all three days makes it that much easier to lean on Golf Channel as well. If you’re unable to get in front of a TV, and that will be the case for many during the second session on Friday, then Golf Channel will have their usual simulcast stream up and running via their Live Extra service. RyderCup.com should also have live video and will definitely have live streams running through their mobile apps listed below.
This has become the most exciting event in golf. The time change will be rough on the American audience, but just embrace it, skip out on work, and take it in through the evening. It’s only once every four years that you have to deal with a Cup hosted in Europe, so enjoy it. Here are all your media options for the week at Gleneagles:
Friday’s Day 1 coverage
Television:
2:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET -- Golf Channel
Streaming:
2:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET -- Golf Channel simulcast stream
Other streaming options
Samsung Smart TV App on Android
Radio:
2 a.m. until completion of play -- PGA Tour Radio on Sirius-XM (Ch. 93/208)
Saturday’s Day 2 coverage
Television:
3 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET -- NBC
3 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. -- Golf Channel’s “Alternate Shot” coverage
Online streams:
3 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- Golf Channel/NBC Sports LiveExtra simulcast stream
Other streaming options
Samsung Smart TV App on Android
Radio:
2 a.m. until completion of play -- PGA Tour Radio on Sirius-XM (Ch. 93/208)
Sunday’s Day 3 coverage
Television:
7 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET -- NBC
7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. -- Golf Channel’s “Alternate Shot” coverage
Online streams:
7 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- Golf Channel/NBC Sports LiveExtra simulcast stream
Other streaming options
Samsung Smart TV App on Android
Radio:
5:30 a.m. until completion of play -- PGA Tour Radio on Sirius-XM (Ch. 93/208)
